The wheels of time roll forward, and after New Year's Day, the Spring Festival is just around the corner. To celebrate this joyous occasion, Beijing is unveiling a series of blockbuster exhibitions for the Lunar New Year. Let's take a sneak peek.
01 Celebrating the New Year — Exhibition of the Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is the most grand and significant traditional holiday for the Chinese people. Festive customs and celebrations are diverse and vibrant, unfolding like a grand theatrical production.
At the dawn of the New Year, this exhibition uses bold and vivid expressions to depict a lively and rejuvenated scene, showcasing the vitality of Chinese civilization and its hopeful aspirations.
In December 2024, the "Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year" was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This exhibition of the Spring Festival features artistic representations of intangible cultural heritage projects related to the holiday. No matter where you come from, you'll feel the warmth and charm of celebrating the New Year at home. Through this exhibition, the Spring Festival portrays the credible, lovable, and admirable image of the Chinese nation.
Time: Until March 2, 2025
Venue: China Traditional Culture Museum
02 A Multitude of Wonders (气象万千）— Themed Exhibition on China Intangible Cultural Heritage Preservation Practices
The exhibition features over 100 national-level representative intangible cultural heritage projects and items inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, showcasing more than 600 pieces (or sets) of artifacts. It emphasizes the dynamic and diverse nature of intangible cultural heritage, delving deeply into its cultural significance and contemporary relevance while promoting its integration into modern life.
Time: Until June 2025
Venue: China Traditional Culture Museum
03 Ink Splendor and Cultural Context— Calligraphy Works and Paintings of Ming and Qing Dynasties Collected by Guangzhou Museum of Art
This exhibition continues the theme of the "Ink Splendor and Cultural Context" series, showcasing 48 pieces (or sets) of Ming and Qing dynasty paintings and calligraphy from the collection of the Guangzhou Museum of Art. Divided into three sections, it highlights masterpieces by painters and calligraphers from Guangdong during the Ming and Qing periods, offering a glimpse into the regional characteristics and aesthetic sensibilities of Lingnan culture. The exhibition provides visitors with a new artistic experience of Guangdong's Ming and Qing paintings while immersing them in the region's cultural charm.
Time: Until February 16, 2025
Venue: National Art Museum of China
04 Beauty of the Five Great Mountains—An Exhibition of Fine Arts Works from NAMOC
This exhibition features over 70 classic works by renowned artists depicting the Five Great Mountains of China. Through their brushes and carving tools, these artists vividly portray the undulating mountain ranges, misty clouds, and seasonal beauty of the Five Great Mountains. The works present a multidimensional view of the cultural significance and natural grandeur of these iconic landscapes.
Beyond showcasing the spectacular and unique scenery of China's mountains, the exhibition also conveys a deep reverence and longing for these majestic peaks. Visitors are invited to experience the vitality, grandeur, and resilient spirit emblematic of the era since the founding of New China, as they encounter artistic renditions of lofty mountains and steadfast pines.
Time: Until April 8, 2025
Venue: National Art Museum of China
05 A New Rediscovery: African Art
This exhibition showcases a diverse collection of African sculptures, offering a vivid display of the artistic essence and rich cultural heritage of Africa. The works are characterized by simple geometric forms and abstract expression, highlighting their influence on the development of movements such as Fauvism and Cubism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As visitors admire the art, they can also explore the significance and functions of these pieces within religious rituals and tribal structures, gaining a deeper appreciation of the unique aesthetic value and cultural depth of African art.
Time: Until March 2, 2025
Venue: Tsinghua University Art Museum
06 DE LA SEINE À LA RUE GUANGHUA: LA MODERNISATION DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS
This exhibition is specially curated to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations. It systematically showcases the pioneering contributions of five Chinese artists who studied in France to the fields of modern art and design in China.
The exhibition also traces the historical context of 20th-century Sino-French artistic exchanges and explores future trends and prospects for art and design within the framework of global cultural diversity and mutual influence.
Time: Until February 16, 2025
Venue: Tsinghua University Art Museum
07 Little Fish Matters — The World of Qi Baishi's Vital Art (小鱼在乎——齐白石的生趣世界）
This exhibition is inspired by "Qi Baishi's Artistic World" and incorporates diverse creative interactive designs, allowing visitors to experience the delightful fusion of art and play while exploring Qi Baishi's lively and whimsical artistic realm.
Through the exhibition, visitors can gradually grasp the essence of Qi Baishi's painting, which masterfully combines vivid form and spirit. His works reflect both meticulous observations of nature and profound insights into human relationships. In this immersive experience, depictions of flora, fauna, landscapes, and rural life, as well as Qi Baishi's artistic maxims, unfold into vibrant life scenes.
Time: Until April 2025
Venue: Beijing Fine Art Academy (Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy)
08 Moving Forward with the Times — A Retrospective Exhibition on the 70th Anniversary of Beijing Gongmei (与时代同行——北京工美七十周年回顾展）
As one of the key events marking the 70th anniversary of Beijing Gongmei, this exhibition is structured into three main sections, showcasing a series of arts and crafts works with distinct characteristics of different eras. It highlights invaluable historical materials collected from various sectors of society, along with exceptional achievements from national-level gift design and production projects undertaken by Beijing Gongmei over the years. The exhibition offers a comprehensive view of the institution's outstanding contributions and far-reaching influence in the field of arts and crafts across different periods, reflecting on and summarizing its glorious achievements over the past 70 years.
Time: Until February 28, 2025
Venue: Beijing Arts and Crafts Museum
09 Craftsmanship and Innovation — The Stories Behind the Beijing's Eight Imperial Handicrafts (匠新匠心——燕京八绝那些事）
This exhibition focuses on the landmark works of Beijing's traditional handicraft heritage after the founding of New China. It features a variety of precious exhibits and craft manuscripts, aiming to offer the public a deeper understanding of the artisan spirit and creative ingenuity behind each piece. The exhibition uses innovative technologies such as holographic display cases, VR experiences, AR fridge magnets, and AIGC cameras to vividly showcase the charm of traditional arts and crafts, providing visitors with a fresh and engaging experience.
Time: Until February 28, 2025
Venue: Beijing Arts and Crafts Museum
10 Collections of the Yan Huang Art Museum (2024-2025)
Founded by the renowned contemporary artist Huang Zhou, Yan Huang Art Museum is based on his donation of thousands of cultural relics and artworks. This exhibition features 55 exquisite pieces (or sets) of ancient calligraphy and paintings from the museum's collection, offering a visual feast for visitors. The exhibition not only presents the history of art and the legacy of craftsmanship but also condenses and preserves historical and cultural significance. It invites visitors to explore the aesthetic value of the works while appreciating the humanistic spirit embedded in them.
Time: Ongoing Exhibition
Venue: Yan Huang Art Museum
11 No Agreement — Qi Baishi's Career as a Painter (不答应——齐白石的鬻画生涯)
This exhibition explores Qi Baishi's artistic life from various perspectives, revisiting his artistic practices and career as a professional painter. It highlights how Qi Baishi adapted to the market and gradually gained recognition, revealing the profound and subtle relationship between artistic creation and the art market. The exhibition showcases over 60 masterpieces of Qi Baishi from the Rongbaozhai and Beijing Fine Art Academy collections. Visitors will not only gain insight into Qi Baishi's career as a painter but also appreciate his remarkable journey from carpenter to artistic giant. The exhibition also offers a glimpse into the deep connection between Qi Baishi and Rongbaozhai.
Time: Until March 8, 2025
Venue: Rongbaozhai (Rongbaozhai Art Museum, Rongbaozhai Contemporary Art Museum)
12 798 Art, Science and Technology Biennale 2025— Symptomatica| Horizon
This biennale interprets the contemporary world through art, science, and technology. The exhibition brings together 24 works by 19 international artists, redefining how we perceive, experience, and diagnose the future. Artists from thirteen countries converge at the intersection of art, science, philosophy, and culture, each exploring the boundaries of contemporary existence through their unique methods. Their works include paintings, installations, videos, bio-art, and dynamic art, creating time-space tunnels that resonate between the past and present on the layers of reality.
Time: Until April 30, 2025
Venue: 798CUBE
13 The Crowned Jewel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Queen Elisabeth and the art of her era
The second half of the 19th century was a pivotal period in Hungarian history and art. This exhibition centers on the highly revered Princess Sisi of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, exploring her life and the art of her time. It is divided into four major sections, delving into the culture of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Hungarian artistic traditions. Nearly 300 precious exhibits are displayed, including several oil portraits of Princess Sisi, her personal belongings, and historical photographs. This is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition in China dedicated to Princess Sisi and the art of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Time: Until February 16, 2025
Venue: China Millennium Monument
14 Ru Jian｜In a Straw Cloak Spend my Life in Mist and Rain·Su Shi — Chinese Traditional Culture Digital Art Exhibition
Covering 2,000 square meters and featuring eight major exhibition areas, this exhibition creates a real-life Song-style three-dimensional space combined with multimedia interactive experiences. It incorporates immersive panoramic art installations, unfolding Su Shi's visionary spirit from 900 years ahead of his time, like a scroll that reveals his expansive worldview. Step into the "Su Shi Circle" and say goodbye to mental fatigue.
Time: Until April 13, 2025
Venue: China Millennium Monument
15 A Scene in a Play (點戏一本)
As two jewels of traditional Chinese folk art, shadow puppetry and paper-cutting possess deep cultural roots. Shadow puppetry brings life to countless stories through light and shadow, while paper-cutting conveys historical emotions and tales through intricate designs. Both art forms come alive through light, revealing their spiritual beauty. The exhibition invites thirteen contemporary artists and a range of intangible cultural heritage inheritors across generations to draw inspiration from shadow puppetry and paper-cutting. These artists extract the core genes of traditional art and express them through contemporary media such as painting, sculpture, and installation. In the Garden Art Museum, these works engage in a dialogue across time and space, exploring the transformation and continuity between tradition and modernity through traditional architecture and landscape. The audience becomes both the creator and participant in the scene, a space explorer, hoping to open the script within the thousand-year legacy of shadow puppetry and paper-cutting, and witness a modern performance that transcends light and shadow to grasp the essence of life.
Time: Until March 23, 2025
Venue: Nanchizi Art Museum
Translator: BAI Jing
